Hands-on Learning

Our programs get you outside to bring to life what you learn in the classroom

"I think recreation is definitely the heart of Missoula. You can drive 30 minutes in any direction and you can do anything imaginable" - Boston Wakeham, one of our Parks, Tourism & Recreation majors who also works for University of Montana Outdoor Program​. Check out this great footage from trips led by Outdoor Program and Freshman Wilderness Experience.

PTRM students can choose from the following experiential learning courses:

PTRM 150 - Current Issues in Parks, Tourism and Recreation Management. Explore recreation and tourism issues in western Montana by visiting outdoor recreation areas and meeting with managers. One section of this class is for students in the Outdoor Recreation Living Learning Community who take this class together, as well as live on the same floor on Aber Hall and particpate in outdoor activities through UM's Campus Recreation.

PTRM 353 - Tourism and Sustainability in the Himalaya. Students spend three weeks in the Indian Himalaya in this summer course focusing on nature-based tourism and sustainability.

PTRM 418 - Winter Wilderness Field Studies. Students spend wintersession studying wilderness values and managment, winter ecology and snow science, and other topics in this field course based in the Mission Mountain Wilderness.

PTRM 484 - PTRM Field Measurement Techniques. Attend professional conferences, visit Yellowstone National park, raft the Alberton Gorge, and more as you learn about impacts of tourism and recreation.

PTRM students must complete PTRM 495 - Practicum in Parks, Tourism, and Recreation Management, with a supervised, pre-professional internship at an approved parks, tourism, or recreation management agency.

Many of your PTRM classes will get you outside on field trips. Visit national wildlife refuges, tour Yellowstone National Park, raft local rivers, visit a state park with the only archaeologically verified campsite of the Lewis & Clark Expedition. Other classes required in the PTRM major also provide many opportunities to get out of the classroom - check out the Forestry Hands-on Learning page for a description of some of those courses.